2. speakers
  3. 1447688408

Revel F208 vs. Paradigm 75F: Auditioning

Hello folks

I mentioned that I was gonna be auditioning some speakers on this other thread: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1445663532

You can see the electronics I have there as well - a 40W tube amplifier.

The dealer I will be visiting on Sunday has the following speakers that I had originally considered - specifically - Revel, Totem, Sonus Faber and Paradigm. I wanted to check out the F208, the Venere 2.5, the Totem Arro, specifically. However, the dealer dissuaded me from trying any of those - and recommended that I just try the Paradigm Prestige 75F.

Now, I know people generally say fairly good things about the Paradigm - and so I am happy to check them out as well. However, is there any reason I shouldn't check the Revel as well? My dealer thinks they would need a lot more power than I have to be driven efficiently and that it won't even be worth checking them out. Is this true? Do they really need that much more power to work effectively? Does the fact that I look to upgrading the upstream electronics eventually make a difference?

My hesitation comes from the fact that the Paradigm 75F is priced exactly at my price point ($3000) and the Revel is cheaper, though equally well reviewed.
badri
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
I'd want to listen to the Paradigm Signature S2 as well in your price range. Yeah, it's a monitor, but if your room isn't too large, it could work.

Also, $3k will go a long way in the used market.
czarivey
5,761 posts
 
Badri, as other posters mentioned F208 are 4 Ohms and Jolida is specked for 8Ohms. It will half its power to 4 Ohms while 30W solid state Pass amp will double power.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,273 posts
 
The new Prestige series from Paradigm is really nice; sounds better than the previous Studio series in my opinion. I think you'd enjoy them.

$3k will buy you a lot on the used market as well. You could look for something from their Signature Series with the berrylium tweeters; those are phenomenal.

Totem makes great speakers too. The Arro's aregreat for acoustic music but they aren't as dynamic as the others. Great imaging though.

I haven't heard the Revels but they also get good reviews.

Another speaker to consider is a pair of Monitor Audio GX 200's. Since the new model just came out (which looks to be very minimal changes) sellers are blowing out the older model. I know where 2 pairs are for under $3k.

If I were you, I'd research and read a lot more reviews and buy pre-owned so you can go further up the food chain. Used Paradigm Sig's for instance are quite a bit more speaker than the Totem Arro's, both of which I've owned (I also owned Gx's that I preferred over the Arro's as well.)
badri OP
69 posts
 
@Timrhu I do plan to seriously consider the second hand market before I make my purchase. The auditioning part of it is still something I will have to do though :)
badri OP
69 posts
 
@Czarivey - I have seen that bit about how solid state amplifiers double their output with a lower impedence amplifier - assuming they can drive that amount of current through their components. Having studied solid state electronics, I understand how this happens.

Can you suggest where I can look to understand how/why tubes do not behave the same way? I can see that their circuits are VERY different. Is it because the output is coupled across a transformer - and the 4 ohm tap is a center tap on the transformer and hence halves the power outout as well? Or is it something else?
More to discover